OROVILLE — For many who don't have homes or food to eat, Thanksgiving arrived early Wednesday with scintillating aromas and plates stuffed with turkey and the trimmings.

The holiday was ushered in just before 11 a.m. for a large crowd that showed up for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner at the El Medio Fire Department on Myers Street.

Oroville Rescue Mission sponsored the event with the help of The Father's House Church, Feed the People and other volunteers.

The dinner provided more than a hot meal. It was a chance for some to mingle with family and friends. It was open to anyone in the community.

Between bites, Anita Knight and Mary Fien-Hankensietken voiced appreciation for the meal.

"That they can feed the homeless is wonderful," Knight said. "We have something warm to eat in our bellies, and I thank God for it."

The two women had taken a bus from Chico for the dinner, which Knight explained was good because it was like being home and because they could see old friends.

"It's a good, warm place to go," Fien-Hankensietken added. "We all need help in some way."

The dinner was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. By 11:25, more than 175 dinners had been served. Hundreds more were expected.

Rev. Steve Terry, who runs the Rescue Mission, said he planned to serve 650 people.

"We have a lot of people in the community that don't really have a lot of hope," he said. "This is a way that we can provide hope and we can be in the business of helping people. This is a ministry for us. A ministry we're called to do.

"We just want to love on people, and know the people who've come here have had a nice holiday dinner and they won't leave here hungry today."

As the guests partook of stuffing, yams with marshmallows, mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey and pie, 75 to 100 volunteers bustled around the fire station.

The volunteers set up, cooked, filled plates, waited on tables, brought pie and beverages and later cleaned up.

They also filled bags of potatoes, yams and onions for the dinner guests to take with them.

Terry said they cooked 55 turkeys, and he purchased 150 pounds of potatoes.

Dessert consisted of pumpkin pie.

At the tables, many people ate silently while others conversed with people nearby. Ages ranged from babies to elderly men and women.

Samatha Blazewick was with her two young children, ages 14 months and 2, and her grandmother.

"I appreciate it," said Blazewick, noting the food was good. "I'm very thankful I had the opportunity to come here and eat."

Terry said the Rescue Mission has sponsored the dinner for the 15 years he's been there. Before that, he wasn't sure, but he estimated it's been going about 25 years total. It's the fourth year El Medio has hosted it because the Rescue Mission ran out of room.

The Rescue Mission provided all the food, Feed the People provided dessert and The Father's House supplied all the labor.

Amid the hustle and bustle, El Medio Fire Chief Rusty Ohlhausen said he thought it was going great. He wasn't surprised at the turnout because they served about 700 people last year.

"I'm happy we had the room to provide it again," he said. "It's our way of giving back to the community."

Rachel Randall spoke with gratitude for the meal.

"I'm thankful for it," Randall said. "There's a lot of homeless and hungry people. What the community and churches do to feed the people is really sweet, and it's kind of them. It's well appreciated."

Staff writer Barbara Arrigoni can be reached at 533-3136, barrigoni@orovillemr.com, or on Twitter @OMRBarbara.